My decision to get a piercing was all fairly sudden and a bit of a whim. Until fairly recently I wouldn't even have considered getting one done, let alone a genital piercing. It all started when I read an article about two months ago in a magazine about a guy who'd had a Prince Albert and about some of the reactions he'd had to it.
At A Glance Author Adam Contact Adam@bme.anon When A month ago Studio Into You Location London I'm a medical student and as such visible piercings are not really allowed. I'm also fairly conservative and no-one I know would ever dream of me as being the type of person to get this done. I guess that's a big part of why I did it; to be unconventional and because it's nice to have a secret.
Anyway, about two months ago I started to seriously consider getting a genital piercing. I looked around on the internet at different websites to try and find as much information as I could, and was surprised at all the weird and wonderful possibilities. I decided that as I'd never had any piercing before and didn't have any first hand experience with aftercare that I didn't want to go for anything major. The thought of something potentially going seriously wrong with my cock was not good, and I figured that if you change your mind you could always take out a piercing and let it heal over and get another one. So I decided to get my foreskin pierced, preferably with a barbell. Again, as it would be my first piercing I definitely didn't want to risk doing it myself. I was recommended 'Into You' in London, close to where I live.
So nearly a month ago I decided to go along and have a look. I was a bit nervous but consoled myself with the idea that I didn't have to commit to anything and could just check it out. At this stage part of me didn't really think I'd get it done then. However, when I turned up at the shop the woman very quickly asked me in a loud voice if she could help me. Feeling nervous and embarrassed I asked about piercings and she said they could do me in about 20 minutes. She also got me to pay in advance (£50), presumably in case I bottled it and fled. I hovered around looking around the shop starting to feel the adrenaline kick in. Eventually a nice lady, whose name I can't remember, came and got me and took me downstairs to a room with an examination couch, sharps bin etc. Just to be sure I checked that everything was autoclaved and/or disposable and she quizzed me about what I wanted where.
With that I dropped my trousers and boxer shorts and awkwardly sat up while we cleaned and put the ink dots onto my cock (about one third of the way from the top, top surface going horizontally). I remember feeling very nervous, heart pumping and mainly quite embarrassed because in the fear of the moment I was suffering serious shrinkage.... On the whole I wasn't too bothered as I figure it's all a job and she'd seen it all before.
I'm normally an abject coward when it comes to needles, so I was feeling very nervous when it came to lying back and thinking of England. The clamping part didn't hurt at all, and when it got to the needle being pushed through I was relieved to find that it didn't hurt that much at all. I felt a very hot slightly painful sensation that was over in seconds. More unusual than painful. Then as she disposed of the implements I got dressed. There was no bleeding at all. I was told that I wouldn't be walking a round like a cowboy, and pleasantly I found that to be true; I was able to walk home with no discomfort at all, though it was constantly on my mind and I was careful of running and stairs.
I was given some medicated cleansing lotion to use in the shower and used it twice a day for the first week, and then at least once a day from then on. I tried salt soaks, but after standing around with my penis hanging into a mug of lukewarm water a few times I decided I'd rather stick to cleaning in the shower. Since having it pierced I've noticed the occasional bit of crusty gunk around the holes and the bar but that seems to be completely normal. Occasionally I catch it on my underwear or trousers but it doesn't really hurt and I'm just concerned about it rejecting or tearing.
I was told that sex and masturbation would increase the chance of infection and rejection and that I should hold off for at least a couple of weeks and then use a condom until it was healed. I confess I tried, but after five days I ended up jerking off. Very carefully. Fortunately no problems. Had sex for the first time ten days after, using a condom, and no problems there either.
So, now a month on and I've had no problems. Very happy with my new piercing. I've got a 2.4mm straight titanium barbell, and am supposed to be going back to 'Into You' in about a week for a check-up and to see if I need my jewellery resizing. I've got to admit that it seems to be addictive too, and I'm definitely thinking about getting another. Will leave it for a bit longer until this one is fully healed though, and I definitely don't want to over-do it with a pound or so of miscellaneous metal.